Latching device



March 2s 1943. J.. B. ocoNNoR LATCHING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 12J 1939 INVENTOR..

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 LATCHING DEVICE John B. OConnor, Aurora, 111.,.assgnor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application January 12, 1939, Serial No.

250,568. Divided and this application February 24, 1941, Serial No. 380,245

K 1 Claim.

This invention relates to keepers for latching devices for locker doors and the like. The present invention is a division of my application Serial No. 250,568, filed January 12, 1939, issued as Patent No. 2,242,958.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved keeper having opposed shoulders adapted to cooperate with latching members and arranged so that the keeper will pass freely in one direction by the latching members, but will be locked with respect to the latching members on retrograde relative movement between the keeper and the latching members; to provide a simple type of keeper preferably formed of sheet metal, and pro-- vided with locking shoulders formed also of sheet metal and assembled to the keeper proper by a very simple assembling operationj to provide a keeper formed of a strip of sheet metal'bent to substantially U-shapecl formation, providing a free leg adapted to receive a sheet metal clip which, when united thereto, forms a keeper shoulder or locking member; to provide an improved type of keeper formed of sheet metal bent substantially U-shaped so as to receivea resilient abutment in the hollow of the U-shaped structure, and whereby one of the legs of the U-shaped structure is adapted to receive a clip to provide a locking shoulder for the keeper;to provide a keeper formed of sheet metal providing a very rugged, simple, and economical locking device for a latching mechanism of a locker or the like; to provideithese and other objects of the invention as will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, where- 1n- Figure l is a perspective view of a locker construction;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the edge of the locker door shown in Figure 1, portions thereof being broken away to show the internal construction;

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view of the latching construction taken on the line 3--3 of Fig-- ure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view the same as Figure 3, but showing the parts in an alternative position;

Figure 5 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3; Y

Figure 6 is a view the same as Figure 5, but showing the position of the parts as the latch begins to engage the keeper; and I l Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the keeper forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a view taken on line 8 3 ure '7.A K

Y The keeper forming the subject matter of this invention is adapted to cooperate with latching Vof Figi- 'Vmembers carried by a door of a locker, the

keeper being formed with opposed shoulders, and the keeper being arranged so that relative movement between the latching members and the keeper in one direction will permit the free passage of a latching mechanism past the keeper shoulders, but which shoulders on relative retrograde movement will prevent unlocking of the latching members from the keeper. In fact, the shoulders are arranged to provide in connection with the keeper a positive locking action.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated the invention as applied to a locker. It is evident, however, that the device has other adaptations and other applications. In the form of lockers illustrated in general by the reference number I0, the door I2 is mounted in a door frame I 'I. The door frame I4 mounts a pair of keeper members indicated by the reference numeral I6 (see Fig'ures l, 5, and 6). Each keeper member comprises a generally elongated strip or blank of sheet metal bent to substantially U- shape and having an attaching flange I8 integrally formed with one of the legs of the keeper.

This flange I8 is welded to theinner face of the door frame I4 and is arranged so that the generallyl U-shaped portion extends into the door opening. The U-shaped portion comprises a rearwardly extending arm 20, a laterally extending portion 22 at the rearward extremity of the Varm 20, and a second leg 24 projected forwardly at` the door opening and provided withafree edge. The leg 24 is provided along its forward vertical edge with a locking shoulder adapted to engage the latching member hereinafter recited. This locking shoulder in the present invention is formed very simply,`preferably it is formed as `a sheet metal clip or cap 26 of generally U-shaped cross-section and is secured in a position overlying the free edge as shown in the drawing, in which position it is secured thereto by indenting as at 28, or by riveting, or welding. Preferably it is secured by indenting. This clip as shown particularly in Figures 3 rand 4 is relatively long and corresponds substantially with the entire width of the leg 24. The depth of the keeper is, as shown, many times the depth of the cap` 26. The free ends of the clip provide rearwardly determined distance.,

of a resilient buffer project whereby to hold' the buffer in asesmbled position to the keeper and thus providing a positively supported cushion to relieve the impact of the door.

The door I2 is mounted upon hinges 32 andinthe illustration shown is formed of sheet material flanged adjacent its edges to form a genn erally reversely extending portion providing a box-like enclosure. More particularly, the 'upwardly extending free edge of the doorA (as clearly shown in Figures 2, 5, and 6) is first flanged rearwardly asat 34, and then laterally as at 35 in a plane parallel to the plane of the door, but spaced rearwardly therefrom. Within the` U- shaped enclosure thus provided is mountedV a vertically extending .channel member 38 having a base wall 4i! and opposed parallel side walls 42 and 44, respectively. Thel channel member 38, while engaged snugly by the flanges 34 and 3S, is nevertheless supported thereby for vertical reciprocation. Any suitable means (not shown) mayibe employed for retaining the channel member in the position shown for free, adjustable reciprocation within predetermined limits. To

' this end theremay be employed a detent or pin infoneof. the members engaging in a vertically extending-slot inthe other member.

Vertical movement of the channel member is controllable. by Ineansof a handle construction 46 comprising an outer handle element 48 whichis secured to the outer surface of the door by fastening means. (not :shown in detail) and by aninner, relatively movable handle construction t).v The inner handle has rearwardly extending tabs or flanges 52 which project through a pair of elongated slots 54 in the frontportion of the` dooriaid are fastened directly to the rear wall '40.off`the channel member by fastening means 55. Ananglemember 58 forms a housing enclosing the'elcngated slots. 5d on their inner sides so that instrumentscannot be inserted through the slot to tamper withthe latchingmechanism.

Invorder that the angle member 58 will enclose andhouse theinner faces of the elongated apertures .54, it is ,secured to thefchannel member and is preferably of, relatively considerable length so thatit residesopposite the apertures 54 regardless ofthe vertical adjustment of the bar. Whilenot shawn yin detail, the angle member E Sghas end walls providinga substantially complete enclosure, and; may` be provided with flangesfor welding directly to the rear wall of the. cl'iannelinV accordance with the structure more fully disclosed` in rnyiPatent No, 2,195,223 issued March 26, 1940, of which the application, Serial No.. 250,568, filed January 12,l 1939, issued as VPatent No.' 2,242,958, for-,Latching device, is a Vcontinuation in part.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by. grasping the inner vhandle 50 and moving itupwardlyrelative to the outer handle 48, the channel member willdbe shifted vertically a pre- AY downwardly projecting lug B on the inner handle projects through a correspondi,ngi aperture ing-the outer handle 48,

aperture 66 must permit entry of the keeper in spite of the varying vertical adjustment of the channel.

On the interior surface of the channel wall 42, there is mounted a latching construction comprising an elongated length of wire formed (as clearly shown in Figure 2) to provide parallel, spaced, vertically extending resilient legs 68 provided with rectangularly shaped lateral projections intermediate of their length and extending in relatively inclined planes. These projections (as Yshown more clearly -in Figure 2) comprise parallell arms lll projecting laterally from each of the. vertically extending legs and joined by a transversely extending keeper engaging portion or latch'i'l2. It` is important to note that each of these projecting portions 10 is inclined4 with respect to. theplane of. the vertical legs S8- and that they converge together as they progress from said-plane. The legs 6,8 are joined together adjacent their lower endsby a lateral arm 14 and at `their upper ends-by a lateral arm 'I6 which latterrmay be joined or which may merely comprise two ends of the wire arranged .in abutmentas shown in theFigure- 8 of Patent of the channel member 'andvhaving lateral, short,

projecting side flanges'. It should be noted that' the flanges' 32 arevspaced justsufciently to oppositelyv engage the vertically=extending arms 68 ofthe elongated Alatching member tovretain -thern in` position.` The ,upper and lowertransverselyextending arms 14 and 16 of the latch member :are engaged lby curved, recessed flanges 8,4" adjacent theupper and lower ends of the mounting frame;

Itshouldbe noted particularly that the curved,

- recessedgflanges :8,4 provide'l recesseson the rearward .ifac'e `of the: supporting 'andmounting frame so that the elongated' arms Hand y'I 6A are engaged behind' the mounting.memberY while the vertically extending arms 68 are engaged adjacent the forward sidethereof, thereby-'firmly and'rigidly interconnecting the latching member and its supporting frame.` Curved arm engaging flanges I 84.' are extended: cppositely. as at 86 to provide atattachmenttilanges permitting the securement of the latchingiunit'in-place within the channel memberrby. means V0f spot Lwelding 88, as y'clearlyshown in Figure 3.'

Attention is particularly directed to th'e -fact that the elongated` latching element, supported andV interconnected with-the supporting frame and the channel member, as shown in Figures 2 to 6, is rigidly fastened to thedoor'assembly Vand cannot be removed therefrom. At theisame time, however,- the: upwardlyextending 4arms thereof and the intermediate rectangular conformations are free to movemesilientlyv about the axesof the arms againstthe resilient torsional resistance thereof. That is to say, the upper and lower ends of the arms 68 are firmly fixed against rotation about the axes of the arms, whereas the intermediate portions are free from such attachment. As a result, the rectangular or latching portions, while normally urged together, as shown in Figures 2, 5, 6, and 7, may be resiliently separated against the spring tension of the vertically extending arms 63;

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, when the door is swung toward closed position, the forwardly projecting end of the keeper will progress relatively through the apertures 64, 66, and 80 to contact the inwardly extending portions of the keeper, which are, namely, the latches or arms (see Figure 6). These will be resiliently separated to admit the ends of the keeper and will spring to the position shown behind the edges of the cap member 26 when the door has reached closed position (Figure This action takes place for the reason that, with the channel 38 in its normal, lowermost position, the latching portions 12 of the latching members are in substantial alinement with the respective keepers. When it is desired,

to release the latching engagement of the parts, the handle assembly is grasped to shift the inner handle 5|) relatively upwardly, thus carrying upwardly the channel 38 and its associated latching mechanism. In so moving the keeper, engaging portions of the latching mechanism move upwardly to the position shown in Figure 4 where they are above and beyond the interengaging shoulders on the keeper. Obviously at this time parts are disengaged and the door may be freely opened.

Upon releasing the lower handle 50 the channel and associated mechanism falls into its original position for re-engagement with the keeper.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the present construction provides a latching structure which is characterized by a strutting action. That is to say, when it is attempted to open the door Without releasing the latch, the engagement of the cap portion of the keeper, with the latches or arms 'l2 of the latch, tends to urge the opposed latches even closer together and results in the transmitting of a compressive force through the laterally extending arms of the keeper members. 'I'hus the relatively simple keeper structure is enabled to exert a surprisingly great force in resistance to unauthorized opening of the door and at the same time such opening forces tend to result in an even more secure engagement of the latching parts. The compressive forces are in turn resisted by the re-entrant portions of the latch supporting member, which re-entrant portions are formed by the junction of the flange 82 with the main wall portion, which provide a recess for the vertically extending spring arms 68.

The present invention provides a simplified, compact keeper device which nevertheless is positive in operation. Unauthorized manipulation of the latches is prevented by Virtue of the fact that the latch members present little or no surface susceptible to engagement by instruments, and further since the latches act on opposite sides of the keeper, whereby the release of one still results in interlocking of the other opposed latch member.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

A keeper for a latching means for a locker or the like, said keeper comprising a plate having a free edge portion, and a cap substantially coextensive with the free edge portion of the keeper plate, said cap being substantially U-shaped in cross section, the depth of the keeper being many times the depth of the cap, whereby such cap envelops substantially only the tip of the keeper, the outer free edges of the ends of the leg portions of the U-shaped cap providing relatively sharp shoulders extending p erpendioularly from the opposed outer faces of the keeper plate to provide relatively abrupt latching abutments adapted to be engaged by opposed latches, the Width of the shoulders taken from the planes of the outer faces of the keeper plate to the outer faces of the cap at the shoulder being suiliciently great compared to the width of the opposed latches whereby said shoulders engage and hold said latches from detachment from said keeper and the outer surface of the cap opposite said free edges of the cap being rounded to permit the latches to move over said cap from said rounded surface toward the opposite free edges and into engagement with the abutments formed by said sharp shoulders.

JOHN B. OCONNOR. 

